Document transformation between program formats and templates system and method

Abstract

A system and method are presented for interoperability of computer software applications. Subdocuments are located within slots of a main document along with a fully-qualified file identifier. Subdocuments can be saved in the main document in an intermediate format. Editing a slot triggers the opening of the original document in its native application. An intermediate format file is then created and reimported into its original slot. A document containing subdocuments can be exported in its entirety from one program to another. An auxiliary program identifies a target template format and converts the original document to the target template in its native application using the original subdocuments. Page image exports are used to transfer all content in the original application document to a destination document in a different format.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 a) displaying a source document containing a plurality of slots, where at least one slot:
 i) is associated with a single subfile, 
 ii) contains source subfile content from the single subfile in an intermediate file format, and 
 iii) has metadata identifying a file location for the single subfile; 
 
 b) receiving a request to edit a selected slot associated with a selected subfile; 
 c) identifying the file location in the metadata for the selected subfile; 
 d) opening the selected subfile found at the file location; 
 e) allowing a user to edit the selected subfile; 
 f) upon a completing of editing by the user, creating edited subfile content in the intermediate file format; and 
 g) inserting the edited subfile content into the selected slot. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the edited subfile content is stored as an edited subfile upon completion of editing, and the edited subfile is deleted after the edited subfile content in the intermediate file format is created. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the file location for the selected subfile is on a file system, further wherein the edited subfile is stored on the file system. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein opening of the selected subfile is within a native application for the selected subfile, further wherein the allowing of the user to edit the selected subfile occurs within the native application. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the creating the edited subfile content and inserting the edited subfile content into the selected slot further comprises substeps of:
 i) identifying that a slot title is associated with the selected slot, 
 ii) examining the edited subfile content to identify a content title in the edited subfile content, 
 iii) inserting the content title into the slot title associated with the selected slot, 
 iv) removing the content title from the edited subfile content to create redacted subfile content, 
 v) creating the edited subfile content in the intermediate file format using the redacted subfile content, and 
 vi) inserting the edited subfile content into the selected slot. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the substeps further comprise removing unprintable shapes from the redacted subfile content before creating the edited subfile content. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the content title is inserted into the slot title in text-only format. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising creating a title file in the intermediate file format using formatting associated with the content title, further wherein the inserting of the content title into the slot title further comprises inserting the title file into the slot title and then deleting the title file. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the creating of the edited subfile content in the intermediate file format further comprising resizing content in the edited subfile content. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further wherein the resizing of content comprises resizing shapes in the selected subfile while not resizing fonts in the selected subfile. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the edited subfile content is subject to translational movement. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting when the editing by the user is completed by opening the selected subfile found at the file location in a window, monitoring the window, and detecting when the window is closed. 
     
     
       13. A computer system comprising:
 a) a memory containing programming; and 
 b) a processor operating under direction from the programming, the programming directing the computer system to:
 i) display a source document containing a plurality of slots, where at least one slot:
 (1) is associated with a single subfile, 
 (2) contains source subfile content from the single subfile in an intermediate file format, and 
 (3) has metadata identifying a file location for the single subfile; 
 
 ii) receive a request to edit a selected slot associated with a selected subfile; 
 iii) identify the file location in the metadata for the selected subfile; 
 iv) open the selected subfile found at the file location; 
 v) allow a user to edit the selected subfile to create an edited subfile; 
 vi) detect a creation of the edited subfile, 
 vii) create edited subfile content in the intermediate file format based on the edited subfile; and 
 viii) insert the edited subfile content into the selected slot. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer system stores the edited subfile content as an edited subfile upon a completion of edit, and the edited subfile is deleted after the edited subfile content in the intermediate file format is created. 
     
     
       15. The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the file location for the selected subfile is on a file system, further wherein the edited subfile is stored on the file system. 
     
     
       16. The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer system opens the selected subfile within a native application for the selected subfile, further the computer system allows the user to edit the selected subfile within the native application. 
     
     
       17. The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the computer system displays the source document in a first program, and further wherein the native application is a second program different than the first program. 
     
     
       18. The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the creating of the edited subfile content in the intermediate file format further comprising resizing shapes in the edited subfile content while not resizing fonts. 
     
     
       19. The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer system opens the selected subfile found at the file location in a window, monitors the window, and detects a closure of the window to identify a completion of the edit of the selected subfile by the user. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising:
 a) displaying, using a first application, a source document containing a slot that contains original subfile content in an intermediate file format, the original subfile content being derived from a subfile found on a file system; 
 b) receiving a request to edit the slot; 
 c) identifying a file location of the subfile on the file system; 
 d) opening the subfile in a native application for the subfile, the native application being different than the first application; 
 e) allowing a user to edit the subfile using the native application to create an edited subfile; 
 f) creating edited subfile content in the intermediate file format based on the edited subfile; and 
 g) inserting, the edited subfile content into the slot so as to replace the original subfile content.